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About Me

Married to Tony mother to 2 children Lucas 23, Gemma 26 & her boyfriend Sean. Carer for 2 crazy Jack Russells. I'm dyslexic so excuse any mistakes.
The Stitching Room is where I spend my time playing with Clarice (my camera) and Bernie (my sewing machine). Come on in and see what I'm up to.

Thursday, 11 October 2007

Thread Holder pattern

When I first showed a picture of my thread holder a number of people asked if I had a pattern. I made mine one morning at my stitching morning, it does not have a pattern so I thought I would show you how it is made.Firstly cut 4 strips 7 1/2 inches X 2 1/2 inches then 4 from a contrasting fabric.Lay them on your cutting board like this.Lay the next 4 right sides together as above.This step is important pick up the strips and put a pin in as above, then do the same to the bottom layer.Sew together with a 1/4 inch seam.You should have 4 pieces like this. Press seams open.Lay 2 on your cutting mat as above.Flip one over so that you have right side together, and seams meeting. Sew together with a 1/4 inch seam. Do the same with the other 2 pieces.Press seams. You will now have 2 pieces that look like this.Lay them right side together you should have contrasting fabrics on top of one another.Sew around the outside with a 1/4 inch seam leaving a small hole for turning. Clip the top corners and clip into the the inside corners. Turn inside out roll and press the seams. Slip stitch the opening closed.Fold one arm on to the next one. As above.I use ladder stitch to join these seams. Starting from the inside corner going to the open end.As you can see you are joining then together along a seam.Taking care to catch the side that are closest. Do this for all 4 arms.Your seams if done correctly will have a wrong and a right side. Above is the right side which will be the outside.This is how the inside will look. If you look at the finished holder it has a section that folds over I stitch up to about 3/4 inch from the top then place the thread through and stitch the seam the other way. This is hard to explain but if you stitch the same way all the way to the end of the seam you will have an inside seam on the outside when you fold the top over.This is my thread holder as it sit on the arm of my lounge. I should empty it more often.As always use this pattern as it was intended do not reproduce it in any way. It would be nice to see some finished thread holders. I know lots of people visit and do not leave a comment so let me know how you go with this.They are great little inexpensive - quick to make gifts.

One wet cold afternoon when boredom had set in the family found another use for it.......

Many thanks from one of the one's that asked you about it in the first place! I love the little thread holder you sent me for my PIF gift but it is very exciting to know how they are made - I'll have to give it a go - they could be used for all sorts of things! Lucy x

very nice ......great tutorial.....will have a go at this.......can you email me please........yes I discovered by accident also that if you have a draft often it will post on the date it started but if you go to post options at the bottom of the screen just on the left above publish post button it opens more info and you can change it there....see how you go next time............I have just started emailing my pics to post and it is much quicker for me..........

When I saw this on your blog this morning (which I linked to from a couple of other blogs!) I knew I just had to make one. I did and it's adorable. I need about 4 more for the different places in the house that I stitch. I'm taking it with me to show my pals at my quilt group this afternoon. Thanks so much for posting!

I tried out your pattern and just loved it. I liked it so much that I have made one for each of the ladies in my quilting group for Christmas. Each year I like to give them something that I have made that relates to quilting. thanks so much

One of our sit and sew ladies had one of those on Thursday and I did not get round to my usual " how did you do that" Was too busy admiring her work which I photographed and blogged.So now I can quietly make one and produce it and try to look clever.......lol.

I love this thread catcher, never knew there was such a thing! I also love that you say you are dyslexic. My daughter is dyslexic and I love knowing she will be all right in the world, she will overcome it like so many have! Going to make the thread catcher today! Thanks!

I saw your tutorial mentiuoned on Stashbusters--and made on ehte same day. My aim is terrible at hitting my wastebasket with threads! Now you gem is sitting right at my right hand. You can see it in today's blog at http://saras-scraps.blogspot.com

I found a link to your site through TipNut.com and I have picked out fabric to make one. I love that it is soft, so I can fold it up and carry it with my needlework projects. It is so cute! I will post a picture, once it is finished.

Exactly what I was looking for to start making Christmas presents for my quilting group!!! I have 6 different 1/2 yards of batiks coming to me and once they arrive I will get right on it. Thanks for such great instructions!

Hi Leanne. Thank you for posting the instructions for this lovely little thread holder. I just made it and it came out great.check it out here: http://mexicocityquiltguild.googlepages.com/Threadholder.JPG/Threadholder-full;init:.JPG

Leeanne, I just made a couple today. I love love love this pattern. Thank you so much for posting it .I have to sit in the hospital with a friend waiting for another friend's surgery this week and hope to get a bunch to the sewing the flaps down stage for cute little gifts.....

Thanks for the great tutorial, I only had to pull it apart twice, but I think that is my brain recovering from night shifts and not a reflection on your wonderul instructions. I have posted a pic of the thread holder I made on my blog. :)

Your instructions are GREAT! I'm not very good at sewing and I just mde one of these as a gift for a lady at work who stitches. I was trying to find the perfect gift and this sewed up quickly and I know she will love it.

Thanks for this pattern. I made several for Christmas gifts, but I filled them with chocolate. The recipients can fill them with thread snips later. You can see the results at crackpotbeader.blogspot.com.

Leanne, thank you for this tutorial - have printed it out and can't wait to make a thread holder! I have just posted a tutorial today on a lovely Dilly Bag - am a bit nervous about it all so I will be happy when some feedback comes through - several have commented, so maybe I'll get feedback on instructions soon - hope so!Hugs - Lurline♥

Leanne,I am an avid crafter and a team member of our local community craft group in Northgate South Australia, which is a not for profit organisation, in fact we only charge a $3 entrance fee to cover costs and offer free craft classes (none of the teachers get paid and they teach voluntarily). I was wondering if you would kindly give me permission to copy your tutorial instructions and teach a small group of ladies your Thread Holder. I have made a number of these wonderful Thread Holders for myself and as gifts for crafting friends and as we are always looking for new things to teach at our group I thought that this would fit in nicely with my theme for next term called ‘One Week Wonders’. I am hoping to teach quick to make crafts that can be completed in a couple of hours. I wait to hear your response and any conditions that you may have.Regards Jane 8o)

I finally took a photo of one of the several thread catchers I've made since seeing your blogsite (and bookmarking it)! I stitched about ten of these before I took a flight across the country. Perfect for handwork to carry with you. Thanks, Leanne!Susan

Hi leanne i love this!!! i don´t know so much about patchwork but I want to learn, can I translate your tutorial to spanish?? is mor easy for me and I would like put this in my blog... sorry my bad english :) I'm from Venezuela...Greetings...Xioe

Dear Leanne,At Sugarbush (our quilt group which meets once a month) one member taught us to make your thread holder. She had one and we liked to have one too, that is how it came about. Your pictures and directions are great, as is your dog! The first one I made was taken by my mother of 84 because she liked it so much. Her friends at the old age home do too!Clara of Johannesburg, South Africa

Leanne; Thank you so much for this tutorial ;-). I made one for myself (for my sewing chair) then another for use at my quilting frame, then another for my knitting room (snips at the end of making an afghan) then on to ones for friends and relatives.... and on ..... and on.... and on.... they are so addictive, thank you for sharing, Love, Anne astoddar@suffolk.lib.ny.us

I first saw this pattern last year. I have since mdde 3 of them...one for me, one for my sis and one to use at my quilt guild meeting next week for a giftie. I just love how they look and feel. When constructing it, it seemed like there is no way this is going to be a 3 dimensional container, but your directions are so easy to follow, that they are a breeze to make. Thank you for sharing this with us>

okay I am definitely going to give this a go. At the moment I use a plastic ziplock bag. I keep all the threads I use for a particular project then put them cut up very small in a small glass jar with a label to show the colours used. This is a much nicer way to collect them though. Thanks

Leanne, the thread basket is so cute. My friends and I would like to make about 50 of them to give out atour Guild's retreat this winter. They would be one of the table favors. Thanks in advance.Monica

Hi, help, I love this little thread catcher and have cut out my strips. But I cannot tell exactly how to assemble it. Maybe I am dyslexic, and I don't say that in jest. Would anyone be willing to help me decipher the directions? I cannot tell which sides are being stitched? And I am assuming it matters which side. It would help a beginner to know if fabric A was being stitched to fabric B on the L side or some kind of notation. From the comments, it seems that everyone else is able to follow the directions. I feel silly, but really want to be successful. Can anyone help?bellamichelle@gmail.com

I found your little thread catcher sew cute!! I had to give it a try. My goodness I had to think about the way you had things laying down, not that you weren't clear, my head just couldn't get around it to make it right. But I was determined and proud to say I've made TWO!!! Lovin it!! I'm so glad I tried this. Augie in Michigan

I'm returning to sewing after almost 30 years !! yes, since 8th grade. Now my 4th grade daughter is starting to catch the bug. I was not an avid sewer then, a little clumsy. I've already noticed how much better i am with my hands -- goes with age and "wisdom"!?? Anyway, I'm going to try this and hopefully I'll manage. I love being able to share this with my daughter now.

This is such a clever basket! And it also makes such a CUTE little doggy crown! I linked to your tutorial on Craft Gossip Sewing:http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-make-a-thread-catcher-from-fabric-strips/2011/03/01/

Hi, I love your thread end container. I made one for myself. I posted a link on about.com/crossstitch to your site for the instructions and a picture of the one I made. Everyone loved it. I've been asked by our moderator to submit a picture of mine to the site for "New Cross Stitch Projects". I will give a general outline of what I did, but readers will be instructed to come to your blog for complete instructions. Thank you so much for this little pattern!

I found your thread holder pattern and finished it last night. I added a sand bag to its base to keep it steady on the chair arm. It was fun - I love its size. I'm trying to figure out how to upload a photo of it for you. Got any tips?

OK, I'm stuck! I'm not following you with what to stitch where.(The handstitching) I have it to that point. I must be waayyy more dyslexic than you because I cannot figure out what to do next. Would you mind leaving a comment on my bog explaining the rest, please? Thanks.http://onthefarmquilts.blogspot.com

Thanks so much for making and sharing the tutorial for your thread catcher..tis brilliant. Now I know what my afternoon project will be on this gloomy Monday. One for me and one for my daughter to match her studio.

And thanks for making me laugh..turning it into a crown for your "baby"..it's sweet.

Hi,I am Marina, living in a small town in germany. I´ve just seen your discribtion for making the little thread holder. Before writing this comment, I just checked my fabrics in my sewingroom for light colors. Now, there are lot of----more than I thougt --- so I think I´ll sew one or two of this cute thread holder. Perhaps one for me and one for my daughter--or for my granddaughter--or for my young friend, who just learns sewing [ I try to show her how to sew successful-;)I hope, it works-:)) ]Thank you for this idea.Marina

Well, it's 6-1/2 years since you posted this, and people are still getting inspired by this little project! I like to make little gifts for my small group and this is perfect! My first one, the experimental one, will go to my guild secret pal if it turns out. Thank you for the clever idea and great tutorial!

I have to make a fabric vessel for a competition in my WI. I think I will try to make it a little larger and use silk and embroidery to jazz itup a bit, but will make some as your pattern afterwards as gifts for girlfriends as secret pal gifts. Will let you know how I get on with the competition.

What a great and very cute idea! I'm with previous poster, Marsha, YOU are 'still' grabbing our attention with this very useful idea! I found you on PINTEREST (which is such a wonderful addiction! ha) Thank you for sharing and posting your pattern! I'm going to gather some colors together RIGHT NOW! Hope you're having a beautiful day!

I am SO sad! I feel that I am the only one who cannot possibly understand this process!! I do everything as pictured, but when I come to putting the two large pieces of 4 right sides together, I cannot get them to match up properly!! Did I sew the L shapes wrong?! I would appreciate any advice.... you can find me at hayley (dot) fortner (at) gmail (dot) com

This is such a simple idea but a lovely thing to make and have. A friend recently found what she said was a "great" tutorial on-line and yesterday demonstrated to a group of us how to make one. I am guessing you were her inspiration so I have put a link to your site from mine. Thanks for sharing.

Hi, I just emailed you with a question. I have done all the sewing but I'm now totally stuck with the hand stitch construction, I don't see how I should fold it all up to get the basket form. Can anyone help me out?! I have the mill form but then the hand stitching, what exactly do I need to fold and sew and how to do the whole 'origami' thing?Many thanks for mailing me with help at wintergirl_nele@hotmail.comGreetz,Nele

This would be most helpful if you could have someone make a video of you as you made one. It is a great idea to give to my stitch group for Christmas gifts next year. Not sure I can put the written instructions into action. I'll try.Happy Stitching,Kathy

I'm so glad I'm not the only one having problems understanding what goes where in the hand-stitching part. I always scored very high on spatial relationship tests in school but this has left me feeling totally inadequate!

I'm a new sewist and I'm finding patterns & tutorials often have "well, everyone knows that!!" assumptions in them. If you're new, you might not know. Would someone please explain what "starting from the inside corner going to the open end" means? I can fold the strips together so they look like the previous picture but then I'm stumped as to where, exactly, to sew them together. I'm pretty sure what I've done is wrong. Thanks!

Well, with generous help from BellaMichelle, I finally understood how it's all supposed to go together. It was seeing a view from the bottom showing the arms spiraling up the sides that finally cleared my fog.

I tossed some pictures of it out on Flickr. https://www.flickr.com/photos/rich_in_nfpa/albums/72157666672703036

I made a few mistakes but I'm sure I'll be making more of these — maybe for the other students in my quilting classes. :-D